21 Oct How to be yourself at university
Going to uni is usually described as one of the best times in your life. New friends, new experiences and a whole new chapter. The first few months of uni can sometimes be a shock to the system, especially if you’re living away from home.
When you’re busy, going through a lot of change and trying new stuff, it’s so easy to lose yourself a little. Lots of people go away to uni to ‘find’ who they really are. But what if you’ve always been that person, and all you really need to do is focus on being you, then the rest will come naturally?
Here at Prime, we think you should never try to be anything but yourself. For this reason, we want to help you not ‘find yourself’ at uni, be ‘be yourself’, because you’re already great as you are.
Tips on ‘becoming yourself’ at uni
How to be kind to yourself
You’re facing a new challenge, new experiences and lots of new people. It’s going to be so much fun, but it may be tough at the start too. You need to remember to be kind to yourself and try not to put too much pressure on yourself. If you don’t fancy doing the same as everyone else, try not to let yourself feel bad about it. It’s okay to miss home, and it’s okay if things aren’t going like you thought they would.
Lots of new experiences mean lots of new emotions. Keeping a level head and reminding yourself to be as kind to yourself as you’re being to others can make a big difference.
How to be good to yourself
Going to uni can mean more time studying, partying, making new friends and having new experiences. Whether you’re living at uni or at home, this can take it out of the most organised of students (cue freshers’ flu!). Whilst it’s important to make time for all of these new experiences, don’t forget to be good to yourself too. Eat well, stay hydrated, and make sure you’re getting enough sleep.
How to be proud of yourself
When you go to uni, you’ll meet lots of new and interesting people. It can be easy to compare yourself to people you live with or students on your course. Whilst this may be natural sometimes, it’s so important not to dwell on it. Remind yourself how far you’ve come and how much it took to get where you are.
School. Studying. Exams. Saving. You’ve done an incredible job, be proud of yourself! And also remember that everyone has a different background, different experiences and that you’ll never know the full details of someone else’s story. You’ve done outstandingly to get where you are, don’t let yourself forget it!
How to be true to yourself
Meeting lots of people all at once means you’re bound to not get on with everyone. That’s okay. Not everyone will be best friends with everyone, and it’s important to be true to yourself and surround yourself with people who make you feel good.
How to be happy with yourself
Self-love and self-confidence is very much a journey. There may be some days where you’re pleased with yourself and there may be others where you’re comparing yourself to your friends. Accepting that this is a journey is a really good first step.
Whenever you can feel yourself being self-critical, remind yourself that you’re doing the best you can. If you’re struggling more seriously with your mental health, don’t be afraid to reach out for support and to talk about it. Our Property Managers are all mental health first-aid trained, and they’re always there for a chat.
Don’t be so hard on yourself
If you have a bad day, don’t do as great as you’d have liked on an exam, or are missing home, remind yourself this: you are only human. Mistakes happen and not every day will be perfect. Tell yourself that you’ll probably have a better day tomorrow and try not to dwell.
How to become your best self
Uni will help you grow as a person, but it’ll help you build on yourself, rather become someone new. You could say that it’ll help you become the best version of yourself. Being kind and proud of yourself, true and good to yourself and happy and not so hard on yourself will help you grow and develop as a person whilst still being you.
Thank you to Endsleigh for this blog post. Endsleigh is our insurance partner, which all Prime residents get for free in their rent. Confirm your cover to ensure that you’re covered for up to £10k!
